Program Overview

Design and Production of Technical Publications

Technical writers constantly face the challenge of creating documents that are easy to understand, aesthetically pleasing, and economical. In this course, we will examine different ways of achieving these goals by taking a careful look at the elements of design and their impact on usability and production.

Overview

• Location: Online
• Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
• Duration: 5 weeks
• Tuition: $545
• Can be applied to: Technical Communication Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

• Start Date: Tue, Jun 9, 2026
  • Schedule: Tue, Jun 9 - Mon, Jul 13 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: -
  • Cost: $545.00
  • Seats Available: 23
• Start Date: Tue, Sep 15, 2026
  • Schedule: Tue, Sep 15 - Mon, Oct 19 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: -
  • Cost: $545.00
  • Seats Available: 25

What you will learn

After completing this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Describe good design and how it applies to technical documents
• Apply the five guiding principles of effective graphic design
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the terminology, types and reasons for using grids for page layout
• Explain the history, terminology, classifications and components of typefaces
• Use tables, charts, graphs and other graphic elements
• Demonstrate your knowledge of image file formats, their terminology and their use
• Identify document structures, organization methods and binding
• Analyze different output processes (printing, electronic) and select the best one based on the project usage, budget, schedule, distribution and accessibility needs

How you will learn and be evaluated

• Prepare to spend 10–15 hours per week on coursework
• Expect reading, exercises and other assignments on a weekly basis
• Plan to access the course at least once every few days to keep up with your work and assignments You will be evaluated on:
• Assignments
• Participation in discussions

Learning Materials

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. This course requires:

• High-speed internet access
• Adobe Acrobat Reader To get the most from this course, you should be comfortable with the following MS Word and/or Google Docs functions:
  • Adding headers, footers and hyperlinks
  • Using and editing paragraph styles
  • Creating and formatting lists and tables
  • Tracking changes and accepting or rejecting changes
  • Inserting a table of contents, media
  • Creating a custom page size
  • Sharing documents (Word / Google Docs)
  • Resizing images
  • Overlapping images and text Assignments can also be completed using Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, or Canva.

English Language Requirements

To succeed in this course, you will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. If you are unsure whether your English language skills are sufficient, we recommend you complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimums:

• Overall band score minimum 6.5
• No band below 6.0
• Writing band score minimum 8.0 Please note we can’t refund your registration fees after the course start date if you find your English language skills are not adequate. If you have questions or concerns about your English language proficiency, we encourage you to contact your local IELTS Test Centre.